Closure member



Oct. 29,1935. w G, R 2,019,084

CLOSURE MEMBER Filed Dec. 23, 195 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

w. G. MILLER CLOSURE MEMBER Oct. 29, 1935.

Filed D80. 25, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Mun/ 4/7/415? ATTORNEY.

1935- 1 w. G. MILLER 2,019,034

CLOSURE MEMBER Filed Dec. 25, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN'TOR. 44 44677/1 14-79 ATTORNEY.

W. G. MILLER CLOSURE MEMBER I Get. 29, 1935.

Filed Dec. 23, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTGR. Mam/l4 Mum ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE CLOSURE MEMBER rationof Michigan Application December 23, 1931, Serial No; 582,889

13 Claims,

This invention relates to improvements in closure members. It is commonpractice to provide a steel shutter for closure members of a building,such as windows or doors that are adjacent another building whichconstitutes a fire hazard,

tion and which is provided with a winding reel operable from theinterior of a building to raise the shutter and which is so designed asto permit the shutter to be lifted by hand.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a device of thischaracter having one end of the drum on which the shutter is woundprovided with a winding spool and a flexible tape or cable having oneend connected to the spool and its other end connected to a handoperated winding reel positioned at a point remote to the winding spool,and means in the winding spool for maintaining tension on the windingtape to permit the shutter to be lifted by hand.

Another object of the invention is in the pro:- vision of a device ofthis character which may be placed in the wall above the closure memberto be protected or which may be placed on the face of the wall and whichis relatively simple in construction and which will operate with amaximum degree of efficiency and which will not easily get out of orderin operation.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention arehereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form ofconstruction by which these objects are attained is shown in theaccompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is an elevational View of ashutter placed on the outer face of a wall, in its lowered position.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line i-'i of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the winding spool.

Fig. '7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the shutter placed in thewall.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end view of a modified form of door structure embodying myinvention.

Fig. 11 is an elevational view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the door or shutter I is composed of aplurality of interlocking 5; plates of any desired type and the edges ofthe shutter are slidably positioned in the guide 2 secured to the outerface of the wall 3 by means of the bolts 4. The shutter I is adapted toclose the opening 5 in the wall in which the win- 101 dow 6 ispositioned, the same being of any desired type. The upper edge or theshutter is secured to the member. 1 rigidly attached to the sleeve orpipe 8. The bracketsS and H) are positioned one adjacent each edge ofthe shut- 15* ter and are provided with the respective bearing portionsII and I2 for supporting the sleeve 8. A bushing I3 is pressed orotherwise secured in one end of the sleeve 8 and forms a bearing for theshaft M. A spring l5' has one end connected to the shaft l4 and itsother end connected to the sleeve 8 by means of the bolt I6 extendingtherethrough and the outer end of the shaft I4 is preferably pinned tothe retaining wheel I! the same being held from rotation by the pin l8extending through the stationary bracket l9 and insertible in one of thesockets 20 provided on the face of the retaining wheel H. The bushing I3is formed with the extension 2| which extends through the bearingportion I2 in the end plate l0 and the portion extending beyond theouter face of the end plate It is provided with a key slot for receivingthe key 22.

A winding spool 23 is formed of the end plates 24 and a hub 25positioned therebetween and se cured thereto by the rivets 26. The hub25 is formed with an aperture 21 of a diameter equal to the diameter ofthe apertures 28 in the end plates 24. A keyway 29is formed in the endplates 24 and the hub 25 to permit the winding spool to be secured tothe portion 2 I. The end plates 24 are each provided on their inner facewith the reduced portions 30 forming the annular shoulders 3! forpositioning the annular ring 32 loosely between the reduced portions 30of the end plates 24, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 6. A relativelylight flat spiral spring 33 has its inner end provided with a loop 3 3through which a pin or rivet 35 passes, the pin 35 extending through theend plates 24 to securely fasten one end of the spring to the windingspool 23. The opposite end of the spring 33 is secured to the ring 32 bymeans of the rivets 35, this feature being more clearly shown in Fig.'7. A winding tape or cable 3! is likewise secured to the outer face ofthe annular ring 32 by means of the rivets 36. By referring to Fig. 3 itwill be seen that the tape or cable 31 passes over the idler' roll 38and thence down through the conduit 39 positioned on the outer face ofthe wall and has its lower end connected. to the-winding reel 40 mountedupon the shaft 4| extending a through the wall 3 having a squaredextension 42 for receiving the removable crank 43.

A sheet metal housing 44 is secured to theend plates 9 and ID forcovering the shutter I in its raised or rolled position. The end of thesleeve 8 adjacent the end plate 9 is formed with the bearing 45 in whichthe member 46 is positioned and a rod 41 is positioned in the member 46and the outer end of the same has secured thereto the serrated disc 48and the outer end of the member 46 is secured to the hub of theretaining wheel 50 the same being prevented from rotation by means ofthe pin 5| extending through the stationary bracket 52 and into one ofthe sockets 53 provided in the periphery of the retaining wheel 56.. Thespring 54 hasone end attached to the member,

I 46 and has its other end inserted in the aperbe inserted in one of thesockets.

or governor 56 is pivotally mounted upon the stud turein'the ring 55positioned on the shaft 41. It'will thus be seen that the tension of thespring 54 may be. adjusted to any desired tension by rotating theretaining wheel 56 and that the spring l5 may, likewise be adjusted toany desired tension by rotating the retaining wheel I1. It will beunderstood, of course, that the locking pin for the retaining wheel willfirst be removed and when thedesired tension is secured the pins willagain An escapement 51 secured in the end wall 9 and is designed toprevent a too quick dropping of the shutter when the sameis released. r

A bar 60 is pivotally connected at 6| to the outer face of the end plate9 and the opposite end has connected thereto one end of the chain 62 theintermediate portion of the chain passing through the aperture 64provided in the wall of the building and the opposite end of the chainbeing secured to V the hook 65 positioned on the inner face of the wall.A fusible link66 is provided in the chain 62 at a point adjacent theconnection of thechain tothe bar 60 so that the link is outside of thebuilding and in the event that heat to a dangerous degree is applied tothe exterior of the building the fusible link 66 will melt and allowtheshutter to fall, ,as will 'be more fully described. A locking member61 is pivotally mounted upon the bar 60 intermediate its ends and theupper end thereof is tapered or beveled to fit in one of the serrationsprovided'upon the serrated disc 48 It will thusv approximatelyhorizontal that the locking member 61 :willprevent rotation of the disc48 and will hold the shutter in'its raised position. In the event thatfire causes the 1ink66 to melt the bar 60 will swing down about itspivot 6| and will release the locking member 61 from engagement with theserrated disc 48 and will permit the spring 54 to rotate the sleeveBthereby lowering the shutter I The escapement mechanism 56 willprevent'to rapid lowering of the shutter thereby preventing injurytoanyone who happens to be beneath the shutter at the time of lowering.

In 1 the event that it is desired to raise the shutter after it has beenclosed by fire it is only necessary'to, grip the handle'on the bottom ofthe shutter and raise the same or by placing a crank 43 on the squared'end 42 and rotating the crank the shutter will likewise be raised.

'R eferring againto Fig. 7 it will beseenthat 7 when the shutter is inits open or raised position that the spring 33 will be practicallyunwound but will not be all the way unwound as the same is not'ofsufficient strength to overcome the friction of the tape passing overthe idler rolls and around the winding drum '40. As the shutter islowered the hub portion of the winding spool 23 will be rotated in acounter-clockwise direction and since the looped end 34 of the spring iscarried by the pin 35 the spring will befwound up and will then rotatethe ring 32 also in a counterclockwise direction and will wind the tape31 from the reel onto the ring 32 and when the shutter is completelylowered the spring 33 will unwind part way until all of the tape hasbeen unwound fromthe reel 40 and since the end of the tape is. fastenedto the reel 40' any'further rotation of the ring 32 is'stoppe-d. If nowthe shutter is lifted by hand'the spring 33 will again .be unwoundpractically all the way but inasmuch as the tendency of the spring inunwinding is to'move "the ring 32in a counter-clockwise direction noappreciable amount of movement will be imparted to the ring therebypermitting the winding tape to. retain its coiled position around thering 32..

If, however, when the shutter is lowered it is desired to raise the sameby operation of the crank 43 the winding drum 35 will be rotated in aclockwise directionthrough the spring 33. It will thus be seen that the.shutter, when lowered, may be either manually lifted or lifted throughopera-' tion of the crank 43 and the spring 31. This cannotbeaccomplished if the ring 32 was formed integral with the winding spool23 as then the tape or cable 31 will simply unwindrfrom the ring 32 andloop or twist with the danger of having the same entangle with some ofthe mechanism and prevent operation of the shutter.

If it is desired to test the shutter to see if it is in workingcondition it is only necessary to release the chain 62 from the hook 65thereby releasing. the latch 61 and permitting the shutter to drop orlower., When the shutter is again raised the chain may 'then' befastened 'to the hook 65 putting the device in operative condition. a

Referring to' Figs; 8 and 9, I have shown a modified form ofconstructionin which the sleeve on which the shutter is rolled is positioned in anaperture in the wall and the winding reel and crank are placed on theinner face of the wall and the conduit which encases the flexible tapeor cable is likewise positioned on the inner face of the wall In thisconstruction the wall 86 is provided with an aperture 8| extending fromthe inner to the outer face thereof and the end or bearing plates 82 and83 are set therein and if desired a sheet metal housing 84 ofrectangular form may be positioned in the aperture 8| to close theopenings in the inner and outer faceof the wall.

The outer face of the wall adjacent the opening 85 in which the closure86 is positioned is provided with a recess 81 in which the-guides 88 arepositioned; The lower edge of each of the end plates 82 and 83 areprovided with the open throat 86 that aligns with the upper edge of theguides 88 to permit passage of the edges ofthe shutter therethrough. Aconduit 96 encloses the flexible tape or cable 9| and is positioned onthe inner face of the wall andthe lower end of the'conduit opens to ahousing 92 which encases the Winding reel 33 the same being operable byrotation of the re-Q movable crank 94. The, operation of this formact-9,084

of device is identical with the device heretofore described.

Although the tensioning means is primarily for use with fireshuttersnevertheless the same principle may be applied to various types ofclosure means such as is shown in Figs. 10 andvll'.v In thisform ofstructure the door I is formed of the sections IilI and I02 hingedly'connected together at I03 and the upper end: of the section IGI ishingedly connected to the frame at I04. The-lowerend of the section I02is provided at each endwith a roller I05 each riding in one of the guidechannels I05. The cables I0! and I08 are connected to the lower edge ofthe door one adjacent each side thereof and the opposite ends areconnected to the respective pulleys I09 and .I In thesame: being mountedupon theshaft I II carried in suitable-bearings II2.

A counter-balancing spring II3 has one end connected to the shaft II andhas its other end secured to some stationary portion of the door frame.This spring will be Wound up as the door is lowered and willcounter-balance the weight thereof and will rotate the shaft II as thedoor i is raised to wind the cables I0! and I08 on their respectivepulleys I09 and IIO. The tensioning device or winding spool 23 isidentical with the device heretofore described. In this form ofconstruction the shaft 4| extends through the door frame topermit thewinding reel 40 to be operated either from the inside or outsideof thebuilding in which the door is installed. It will thus be noted that thedoor I 00 may be lifted by hand to its open position as shown in Fig.10, or the same may beraised when lowered by rotating the shaft M bymeans of the crank 43. It will be understood, of course, that varioustypes of closure members may be used in conjunction with my improvedtensioning device without departing from the spirit of the invention andthe scope of the appended claims.

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that I have provided arolling steel shutter which is'so constructed as to permit the same tobe raised by hand and which is mounted on a sleeve, the sleeve having awinding spoolto which a flexible tape is attached the opposite end ofthe tape being connected to a winding reel to permit the shutter to beraised by rotation of the winding reel and the winding spool to whichthe upper end of the tape is connected provided with means for holdingthe tape in close contact with the winding drum when the shutter isbeing lifted by hand.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is-- 1, In a device of the character described, a rollingsteel shutter, a winding drum therefor, a spring tending to turn thedrum to unwind the shutter to closed position, means for latching theshutter in its rolled position, thermally and manually controlled meansfor releasing the latching means to permit unwinding of the shutter,means for rewinding the shutter on the winding drum when the shutter islowered, comprising a winding spool attached to and rotatable by thewinding drum, a cable, one end attached to the winding spool, a windingreel, the opposite end of the cable attachedv thereto, means formanually rotating the winding reel to wind the cable thereon to raisethe shutter, and spring means for automatically maintaining tension onthe cable at all timesto prevent buckling thereof when the shutter israised;

2;.In.v a device of the character described, a rolling steel shutter, awinding drum therefor, aspring tending to turn the drum to unwind theshutter to'closed position, means for latching the shutter'in its rolledposition, thermally and manually controlled means for releasing thelatching means to permit unwinding of the shutter, means f or'rewindingthe shutter on the winding drum whenthe shutter is lowered, comprising awinding spool attached to and rotatable by the winding drum, a cable,one end attached to the winding spool, a Winding reel, the opposite endof' the cable attached thereto, means for manually rotating: the windingreel to wind the cable thereon to raise the shutter, and spring means inthe winding spool for automatically maintaining tension on the cable atall times to prevent buckling thereof when the shutter is raised.

3. In a device of the character described, a rolling steel shutter, awinding drum therefor, means for latching the shutter in its rolledposition, thermally and manually controlled means for releasing thelatching means to permit un- Winding of the shutter, means for rewindingthe shutter on the winding drum when the shutter is lowered comprising atwo piece winding spool, one piece attached to and rotatable by thewinding drum, spring means for connecting the two pieces together, acable, one end attached to the second piece of the winding spool, awinding reel, the opposite end of the cable attached thereto, means formanually rotating the winding reel to Wind the cable thereon to raisethe shutter, said spring means connecting the two pieces of the windingspool together designed to rotate the second piece relative to the firstpiece to maintain tension on the cable at all times to prevent bucklingthereof when the shutter is lifted by hand.

4, In a device of the character described, a rolling steel shutter, awinding drum therefor, means for latching the shutter in its rolledposition; thermally and manually controlled means for releasing the:latching means to permit unwinding of. the shutter, means for rewindingthe shutter on the Winding drum, when the shutter is. lowered,-comprising a winding spool including a hub portion attached to androtatable by the winding drum, a ring concentrically arrangedwith theaxis of the. hub, spring means for connecting the hub and ring together,a cable, one end attached to the ring, a winding reel, the: opposite endof the cable attached thereto, means: for" manually rotating the windingreel to wind the cable to raise the shutter, said spring meansconnecting the hub portion and the ring of: the-winding spool togetherdesigned to rotate the ring: relative tothe hub portion to maintaintension onthe'cable at all times to prevent buckling thereof whentheshutter is lifted by hand.

5. In: a device of the character described, a rolling steel shutter, awinding drum therefor, means for latching the shutter in its rolledposition, thermally and manually controlled means for releasing thelatching means to permit unwinding of the shutter, means for rewindingthe shutter on the winding drum when the shutter is'lower-ed, comprisingatwo piece winding spool, one'piece' attached toand rotatable by'thewinding, drum, a. coiled spring, one end attached to one piece and theother attached to the second piece of the winding spool, a cable, oneend attached to the second piece of the winding spool,

a winding reel, the opposite end of the cable attached thereto, meansfor manually rotating the winding cable to wind the cable thereon toraise the shutter, said spring connecting the two pieces of the windingspool together, wound in a manner to rotate the second piece relative tothe first piece to maintain tension on the cable at all times to preventbuckling thereof when the shutter is lifted by hand.

6. In a device of the character described, a

rolling steel shutter, a winding drum therefor,

7 means for latching the shutter in its rolledposition, thermally andmanually controlled means for releasing the latching means to permit un-'winding of the shutter, means for r'ewinding the rotating thewindingfreel to wind the cablethere- 'on'toraise the shutter, the saidspring connecting the hub portion of the ring and the winding spooltogether so wound'as to rotate the ring relative to the hub portion tomaintain tension on the cable at all times to prevent buckling thereofwhen the shutter is lifted by hand. 7

7. In a deviceof the character described, a

/ rolling steel shutter, a winding drum therefor,

meansfor latching theeshutter in its rolled posi- 1 tion, thermallycontrolled means for releasing the latching means to permit unwinding ofthe shutter, means for rewinding the shutter on the winding drum whenthe shutter is lowered, comprising a two-piece winding spool, one pieceattached to and rotatable by the winding drum, spring means forconnecting the twopieces together, a cable, one end attached to thesecond piece of the winding spool, a winding reel, the, opposite end ofthe cable attached thereto,

- means for manually rotatingthe winding reel to wind the cable thereontoraise the shutter, said spring means connecting the two pieces of thewinding spool together designed to rotate the second piece relative tothe first piece to maintain tension on the cable'when the shutter islifted by hand to prevent buckling of the. cable. 8.'In adevice of thecharacter described, a

closure member, a windingspool, means operable by movement of theclosure member for rotating the winding spool, spring means wound up bymovement of the closure member to open position and tending to move thesame to closed'position, a cable, one end attached to the winding spool,a winding reel, the opposite end of the cable attached thereto, meansfor manually rotating the winding reel to wind the cable thereon toraise the closure member, and spring means for maintaining tension onthe cable, to prevent buckling thereof when the closure member is liftedby hand. 7

, 9. In a device of the character described, a

' closure member, a two piece winding spool, means operable by movementof the closure member for rotating one piece of the winding spool, acoiled spring, one end attached to one piece and the other attached tothe second piece of the wind-' ingspool, a cable, one end attached tothe second tating the hub portion, manual means for pulling piece'of thewinding spool, a winding reel, the opposite end of the cableattached'thereto, means for manually rotating the winding cable to windthe cable thereon to raise the closure member,

said spring connecting the two pieces of the wind- 5 10. In a device ofthe character described, a

closure member, a two piece winding spool, means operable by movement ofthe closure member for rotating one piece of the winding spool, springmeans .for connecting the two pieces of the wind-= ing spool together, acable, one end attached to the second piece of the winding spool, awinding reel, the opposite end of the cable attached thereto, means formanually rotating the winding reel to wind the cable thereon'to raisethe closure member, said spring means connecting the two pieces of thewinding spool together designed to rotatethesecond piece relative to thefirst piece to maintain tension on the cable as the closure member islifted by hand to prevent buckling of the cable.

11. A device of the character described, a closure member, a windingspool, including a hub cableattached thereto, means for manuallyrotating the winding reel to wind the cable to raise the closure member,said spring means connecting the hub portion and the ring of the windingspool together designed to rotate the ring relativeto the hub portion tomaintain tension on the cable 40 as the closure member is being liftedby hand to prevent buckling of the cable. I

12; In a device of the character described, a closure member, a windingspool including a hub portion, means operable by movement of the closuremember 'for' rotating said hub, a ring concentrically arranged with theaxis of the hub,

a coiled spring, one end connected to the hub, the opposite endconnected to the ring, a cable, one end attached to the ring, a windingreel, the opposite end of the cable attached thereto, means for manuallyrotating the winding reel to-wind the cable thereon to raise theshutter, the said spring connecting the hub portion and the ring of thewinding spool together, so wound as to rotate'the ring relative to, thehub portion to maintain tension on the cable as the closure memher isbeing lifted by hand to prevent buckling of the cable. Z

1 3. In a tensioning device, a winding spool including a hub portion,and a ring concentrically arranged with the axis of the hub, springmeans for connecting the hub and ring together, a cable, one endattached to the ring, means for ro- 6 the cable to'unwind the same fromthe ring, the said spring means connecting the hub portion and the ringof the winding spool together de-- signed to rotate the ring relative tothe hub portion to maintain tension on the cable at all times.

WILLIAM G. MILLER.

